Firefighters work to extinguish flames in the attic of the Village Pizza and Pub on Route 25 in Carpentersville.

By NORTHWEST HERALD

CARPENTERSVIILLE – Firefighters from several area departments battled a blaze at Village Pizza and Pub on Route 25.

Firefighters were called to respond to a Mutual Aid Box Alarm just before 2 p.m. and fought the fire until roughly 3:30 p.m.

Kelly McClellen works at the restaurant and said she believes the fire was caused by a lightning strike earlier in the day.

"This morning I was here setting up for the day and I heard a big crack, and I checked the restaurant and I checked outside and everything seemed fine," McClellen said Thursday afternoon. "I'd say about an hour later we started smelling rubber burning … not even half an hour later it started smoking in the restaurant."

Carpentersville Police Chief Al Popp said that an investigation was ongoing, but with this morning's thunderstorms it is "entirely possible" lightning was the cause of the fire.

No one was injured in the blaze, and most of the damage was contained to the roof and the attic, Popp said.